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Collection:
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NASA Spitzer Space Telescope Collection
Collection
NASA Spitzer Space Telescope Collection
Collection
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Title:
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Messier 81
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Description:
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The magnificent and dusty spiral arms of the nearby galaxy Messier 81 are highlighted in these NASA Spitzer Space Telescope images. Located in the northern constellation of Ursa Major (which also includes the Big Dipper), this galaxy is easily visible through binoculars or a small telescope. M81 is located at a distance of 12 million light-years.
The three-panel mosaic is a series of images obtained with the multiband imaging photometer. Thermal infrared emission at 24 microns (top), 70 microns (center) and 160 microns (bottom) is shown in the images. Note that the effective spatial resolution degrades as ones moves to longer wavelengths.
At these wavelengths, Spitzer sees the dust, rather than the stars, within the disc of silicates and carbonaceous grains. It is well-mixed with gas, which is best seen at radio wavelengths, to form the essential ingredients for future star formation.
Description
The magnificent and dusty spiral arms of the nearby galaxy Messier 81 are highlighted in these NASA Spitzer Space Telescope images. Located in the northern constellation of Ursa Major (which also includes the Big Dipper), this galaxy is easily visible through binoculars or a small telescope. M81 is located at a distance of 12 million light-years.
The three-panel mosaic is a series of images obtained with the multiband imaging photometer. Thermal infrared emission at 24 microns (top), 70 microns (center) and 160 microns (bottom) is shown in the images. Note that the effective spatial resolution degrades as ones moves to longer wavelengths.
At these wavelengths, Spitzer sees the dust, rather than the stars, within the disc of silicates and carbonaceous grains. It is well-mixed with gas, which is best seen at radio wavelengths, to form the essential ingredients for future star formation.
Description
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Release Date:
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2003/12/18
Release_Date
2003/12/18
Release Date
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Press Release:
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Press_Release
Press Release
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Release Credit:
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NASA/JPL-Caltech/K. Gordon (University of Arizona)
Release_Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/K. Gordon (University of Arizona)
Release Credit
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Image Credit:
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NASA/JPL-Caltech/K. Gordon (University of Arizona)
Image_Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/K. Gordon (University of Arizona)
Image Credit
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Object name:
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M81
Object_name
M81
Object name
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Object name:
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NGC 3031
Object_name
NGC 3031
Object name
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Object name:
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Messier 81
Object_name
Messier 81
Object name
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Object name:
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UGC 5318
Object_name
UGC 5318
Object name
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Object type:
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Spiral galaxy
Object_type
Spiral galaxy
Object type
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Position (J2000):
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*RA: *09h55m33.20s *Dec: *69d03m55.00s
Position_(J2000)
*RA: *09h55m33.20s *Dec: *69d03m55.00s
Position (J2000)
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Distance:
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12,000,000 light-years (3.6 Mpc)
Distance
12,000,000 light-years (3.6 Mpc)
Distance
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Constellation:
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Ursa Major (the Big Bear)
Constellation
Ursa Major (the Big Bear)
Constellation
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Wavelength:
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24, 70 and 160 microns
Wavelength
24, 70 and 160 microns
Wavelength
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Image scale:
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23.3 x 17.8 arcmin
Image_scale
23.3 x 17.8 arcmin
Image scale
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Observers:
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Karl D. Gordon, Principal Investigator (University of Arizona)
Steven P. Willner, Principal Investigator (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Almudena Alonso-Herroro (University of Arizona)
Philip Appleton (SSC/Caltech)
Matthew L. N. Ashby (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Pauline Barmby (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Chad Engelbracht (University of Arizona)
Giovanni G. Fazio (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
David Frayer (SSC/Caltech)
George Helou (SSC/Caltech)
Joannah Hinz (University of Arizona)
Robert Kennicutt (University of Arizona)
Karl Misselt (University of Arizona)
Michael A. Pahre (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Pablo Perez-Gonzalez (University of Arizona)
George Rieke (University of Arizona)
Marcia Rieke (University of Arizona)
Susan Stolovy (SSC/Caltech)
Lisa Storrie-Lombardi (SSC/Caltech)
Observers
Karl D. Gordon, Principal Investigator (University of Arizona)
Steven P. Willner, Principal Investigator (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Almudena Alonso-Herroro (University of Arizona)
Philip Appleton (SSC/Caltech)
Matthew L. N. Ashby (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Pauline Barmby (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Chad Engelbracht (University of Arizona)
Giovanni G. Fazio (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
David Frayer (SSC/Caltech)
George Helou (SSC/Caltech)
Joannah Hinz (University of Arizona)
Robert Kennicutt (University of Arizona)
Karl Misselt (University of Arizona)
Michael A. Pahre (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Pablo Perez-Gonzalez (University of Arizona)
George Rieke (University of Arizona)
Marcia Rieke (University of Arizona)
Susan Stolovy (SSC/Caltech)
Lisa Storrie-Lombardi (SSC/Caltech)
Observers
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Instrument:
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MIPS
Instrument
MIPS
Instrument
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Exposure Date:
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November 24, 2003
Exposure_Date
November 24, 2003
Exposure Date
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Exposure Time:
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80 seconds per position (24 microns); 40 seconds per position (70 microns); 8 seconds per position (160 microns)
Exposure_Time
80 seconds per position (24 microns); 40 seconds per position (70 microns); 8 seconds per position (160 microns)
Exposure Time
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Orientation:
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North is rotated 91 degrees clockwise from the vertical
Orientation
North is rotated 91 degrees clockwise from the vertical
Orientation
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Magnitude:
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7.9
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facet_what:
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Spitzer Space Telescope
facet_what
Spitzer Space Telescope
facet_what
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facet_what:
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MIPS
facet_what
MIPS
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Ursa Major
facet_what
Ursa Major
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Messier
facet_what
Messier
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Messier 81
facet_what
Messier 81
facet_what
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facet_where:
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Arizona
facet_where
Arizona
facet_where
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facet_where:
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M81
facet_where
M81
facet_where
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facet_where:
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NGC 3031
facet_where
NGC 3031
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Chad
facet_where
Chad
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Washington, D.C.
facet_where
Washington, D.C.
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Stennis Space Center (SSC)
facet_where
Stennis Space Center (SSC)
facet_where
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facet_when:
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November 24, 2003
facet_when
November 24, 2003
facet_when
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facet_when_year:
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2003
facet_when_year
2003
facet_when_year
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Image #:
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ssc2003-06e
Image_#
ssc2003-06e
Image #
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original url:
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original_url
original url
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UID:
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SPD-SPITZ-ssc2003-06 e
UID
SPD-SPITZ-ssc2003-06 e
UID
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